Non-stop flights from Shanghai to Perth to return
Chinese New Year celebrations will kick off early next year as China Eastern Airlines brings back its special non-stop flights between Shanghai and Perth. Secured in partnership with Perth Airport, the Tourism WA-supported non-stop flights will boost visitor numbers from China to Western Australia as the country celebrates its biggest annual holiday. Ten additional inbound flights are scheduled over the 2025 Chinese New Year period of 24 January to 14 February 2025, with three services to run per week. These non-stop flights, alongside the upcoming resumption of China Southern Airlines' non-stop service between Guangzhou and Perth, will enhance tourism opportunities from one of the state’s most important international markets, while strengthening Perth’s position as Australia’s Western Gateway.
Read more here.

Coldplay, WWE, FIFA inject mammoth boost into WA economy
Western Australia's economy was supercharged by $104.9 million last financial year thanks to smash hits Coldplay, WWE and the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 matches. Coldplay was the highest-attended event by out-of-state visitors on record, with roughly 40,000 tickets purchased from outside WA, generating $43.4 million in economic impact. More than 125,000 fans attended across two performances. WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth generated $36.2 million for WA, entertaining more than 52,000 WWE fans at Optus Stadium. Hosting five matches for the FIFA Women's World Cup was also hugely successful, with $25.3 million generated. Read more here.

Header image credit: Duncan Barnes
Above image credit: SoCo Studios

Regional Events Scheme now open for 2025-26
Applications for the 2025-26 Regional Event Scheme (RES) opened yesterday, with up to $1 million available to support regional Western Australian events. The annual program supports smaller and developing regional events with funding between $5,000 and $40,000 available per event, helping to stimulate local economies and attract new visitors to regional WA. The Tourism WA scheme is supported by the Royalties for Regions program through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Applications close at 5pm AWST on Friday, 20 September 2024. Read more here. 

Busselton Jetty Swim 2024
Image credit: Abby Murray Photography

Perth delivers blockbuster weekend of sport
Fans enjoyed a sporting double-header last weekend with the Wallabies vs Springboks clash at Optus Stadium and the UFC 305: DU PLESSIS vs. ADESANYA showdown at RAC Arena. Both events were well attended, with the UFC selling out all 14,000 tickets, and the Wallabies vs Springboks match unfolding before a crowd of 58,197 fans. The events also drew significant broadcast audiences, driving global attention to WA, with thousands of out-of-state visitors expected to have attended the events, reinforcing WA’s reputation as an international major events destination. Read more here.

Image credit: Travis Hayto, SoCo Studios

Carmelo Anthony and Fan Zone announced for HoopsFest
NBA great Carmelo Anthony will headline the inaugural HoopsFest festival in Perth next month, set to be the largest basketball festival in the country. As part of the event, a HoopsFest Fan Zone will pop up in Forrest Place, featuring Australasia’s NBL and WNBL player appearances, live music, DJs, food trucks, a slam dunk exhibition and a pop-up basketball court. High profile NBL and WNBL talent will host meet and greets, signings and skill sessions, while the pop-up court will include competitions, player clinics and 3x3 basketball events. Read more here.  

Image credit: Getty Images

Western Australia showcased at Virtuoso Travel Week
Last week, Tourism WA attended Virtuoso Travel Week 2024 in Las Vegas. Virtuoso is a leading luxury travel consortia and Travel Week is their flagship event, bringing together thousands of top luxury travel professionals and preferred suppliers from around the world. Throughout the week, the team undertook a series of appointments with luxury travel advisors to promote Western Australia, as well as engagements with key US media publications and Virtuoso’s international teams. Tourism Australia took part in the key opening session of the event, showcasing Australia and encouraging advisors to consider the destination for their clients. Perth will host the Virtuoso AUNZ Forum in February 2025. Read more here.  

Fremantle feature for Australian Traveller
Fremantle has been named this month’s ‘hip hood’ in a three-page feature in Australian Traveller as one of two features in the August/September edition secured by Tourism WA. The magazine also features a two-page long-form piece about stargazing opportunities in Western Australia, focusing on Eco Abrolhos Cruise and an interview with Astro Tourism WA. Australian Traveller has a readership of 123,000 people. Read more about Australian Traveller here. 

Image credit: Osprey Creative

Travel Managers Group NZ partnership campaign
Tourism WA has launched a three-week New Zealand campaign with Travel Managers Group (TMG) to encourage Kiwi travellers to book a ‘Dream holiday in Western Australia’. TMG has collated Perth packages as well as a mix of ‘experiential’ WA holiday packages, including train and cruise journeys. Paid social, e-newsletters and website banners will assist the TMG brokers to convert WA bookings. The campaign features an incentive to encourage agents to attend a Tourism WA training webinar and complete modules in the West Aussie All Stars online training program. TMG has a network of over 180 high-performing travel professionals who are experienced consultants and managers throughout New Zealand. Learn more here.  

New research into WA holiday visitors released
Holiday visitors to and within Western Australia in 2023-24 were highly satisfied with their experience, according to recently released results from Tourism WA’s annual Visitor Experiences and Expectations Research. Two thirds (65 per cent) of visitors surveyed said their holiday in Western Australia was better than they had expected; the highest result recorded over the last decade. The research also shows both participation and interest in Aboriginal tourism in WA continues to grow, reaching a record high in 2023-24, and has insights into Dark Sky Tourism, National Parks, and Sustainability. Access the full report here. 

Last chance to apply for new wine tourism award
The WA Good Food Guide, in partnership with Tourism WA, is searching for Western Australia’s Best Tourism Experience in Wine. If you have a bookable tourism experience, such as special cellar door tastings, unique events, winery accommodation or hospitality, you are invited to apply for this new award category. Applications are now open and close tomorrow Friday, 23 August. The winner of this inaugural category will be announced at the WA Good Food Guide Wine Awards & Festival on Monday, 14 October 2024. Find out more and apply here. 

East Coast trade support available
Businesses planning an east coast sales or product training visit or seeking to build interstate trade contacts are encouraged to contact Tourism WA’s East Coast Trade Manager. Christine Poole can assist with connections and arranging meetings with top travel agents and relevant key distribution partners, and the East Coast team also share the latest business news, events and updates in a destination training and regular trade e-newsletter, with submissions welcomed from WA businesses. For more information, email Christine.Poole@westernaustralia.com.

Commonwealth tourism grants available
Applications close tomorrow for the 2024-25 funding round of the Revive Live Program, facilitated by the Australian Government, in support of the live music industry. Funding of between $5,000 and $250,000 is available for activities that support established live music venues or festivals, with a total pool of $7.7 million. Applications close 11.30 PM AEST tomorrow, apply now. Applications are also invited for the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program, for sales made in the 2023-24 financial year. Find out more, including how to apply, here. 

Join an upcoming Tour Guide training course
Tourism Council WA’s one-day Tour Guide Training course, taking place in Perth on Wednesday, 18 September, teaches the basic principles of tour guiding in a fun and supportive environment. The workshop covers topics including tour logistics, developing and delivering quality narrative, engaging an audience, designing tours, and more. Register here.  

Perth networking event on 4 September
Tourism operators are encouraged to join industry colleagues for a relaxed networking evening at Tourism Council WA’s upcoming Network@Night on Wednesday, 4 September at Bells Functions, Perth. The event will include a policy and advocacy update from Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall, plus an update on industry recognition program, The Dream Collective, from Tourism WA. Register here.